HELP THE RESERVES ?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1631, 24 December 1912, Page 8

HELP THE RESERVES ?

. —q THE CALL ON SPORT. ; : J MR. C. G. WILSON & HIS SCHEME; '. .' ; ;; ,.EASTEK CARNIVAL. '.'.'..'..' About twenty-five. people attended ameeting of representatives of sports and ;■ '. athletic bodies held at the Town. Hall last night to discuss,a proposal for ho'ldI . ins.-A grand sports carnival to" raise funds ! . > for the improvement and beautifying of i the city sports grounds and reserves. The Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) presided, and there were in addition half a dozen councillors present. - "'■■j / ff;;-; ■•''■' : - In opening the meeting.the Mayor said that the small attendance was no doubt due to the fact that it-was such a bad time, of-tho'year to call a meeting.' Ho briefly explained the object of the meeting 1 . and expressed'the opinion, that Newtown . Park was a place which'would lend itself admirably to the holding of a carnival.. ; He thought that in that park they could hold as fine a,carnival as could be held anywhero in the country. The movement could be set on foot at that meeting, and ' ■ ; if all the athletic bodies in Wellington combined, he ras sure that they could ,";■ make the affair a huge success. '. The chairman of the-Reserves Committee (Councillor G. Frost) explained that the idea of the carnival had originated ; with Mr. C". G. Wilson and had found , . favour with the Reserves Committee and the council/i Mr.' Frost-then gave some details of what had. been done .in: the same direction in Diinednr and of what ■ ' It was proposed to do in Wellington.

Mr. C- G. Wilson on the Scheme. - Mr. C.--G-.'Wilson thought nil present Ivould .agree,.that there....was: room for plenty of improvement in the reserves End. playing,,areas in -Wellington. They would also' agree that,, the Mayor and City Councillors had been very good and had don'B a lot of work,'but they were handicapped for lack of funds. The preEent scheme ..was calculated- to overcome that difficulty. ' For the carnival to be successful- they would-have to -look to ■the-citizens of Wellington to take ah interest in. it.. ; Thej'.would also have to have/a good secretary.- He ■ was sorry to see no .ladies, .present because they were Vitally • interested in the- matter. In the interests of the health of their children theyhad.to.look to the "city fathers" to provide proper playing, areas.. As to the course' to. 'be adopted in promoting the carnival. Mr. Wilson suggested.that they should form a general committee,and,from that,,form.executive committees and also'have ladies' committees. Although tho meeting was only a mnall one, he was sure that if they were satisfied that the.project was a,good, one, and if-they ; themselves were enthusiastic about it,' they would rouse the enthusiasm of.the public and ensure the ultimate success-of the carnival, and thus help the Reserves. Committee to gain an amount of money of which they were very much, in need.,., Mr. Wilson mentioned that-.tha Dunedih "carnival, had .resulted in a profit of something,like ,-£120(1. • The art unionin connection with it had been so. successful that for the next art union they were printing 40,000 tickets. " .

Plan/of Campaign Discussed. . Mr. J. H. Pollock thought some intimation should be giyen as to'how the-money raised by the sports carnival would be spent. The sports bodies.might all work hard, and then the.money, raised might be Bxpendcd in some manner'that was not of much uso to them. ~ : The Mayc-iy. remarked that he could.only, give a personal opinion. He thought that a proper way would b3 to have.a conference between the representatives'of the amalgamated body, that raised these funds and the, council pf.tho city. The former would stand in the position of an advfeory board. ~ ~ Councillor R:. Fletcher considered./ that what, was necessary to. be done, by the meeting;was.',to;first pass some resolution to set the movement on foot s before they disposed Qftho."funds - , which had.'not' yet been raised.;-. That was .a matter' about which there 'should'lm'.lio-difficulty later on. He'.moved:—"That a. carnival be.held Dn the dines-of-the-oho held in Dunedin, ind that'those .present' fo'rm' a;committee, irith power add to,; .their number,', to'go into the" question." " ''•'•■'''".''/' ... Mr M. M.''F. Jjuckie,. who'; seconded' the motion, expressed appreciation of the manner in /which 'the' Reserves Committee of the-council had always' assisted the' sports bodies.. Ho referred also to tho benefit that Would result' to the reserves from the recent legislation giving authority to make, ;ch'argos.for adliiissibn .on 30. days of the year.' Mr. Luckic suggested Easter as a suitable, finie -for ;the- : holding pf the carnival, which'might extend over a week, and become ai annual fixture. Councillor Barber.; congratulated" the promoters of the movement on taking the matter up, as he believed that it would bo a great 'success, and would consider nbly'benefit tho'. reserves. - He suggested that tho money'raised should be an additional amount to\bo expended on the reserves, and not part of-.-the present allocation. ' '■■'■'

Several others present spoke to the motion, which was carried unanimously; On the motion of Mr. George,.it"was 'decided to form a Preparations" Committee to arrange matters for the .next meet-, ing, -to r be .held on Wednesday, January B, tho committee-to consist of Councillors Frost, Fuller, Fitzgerald, and- -Messrs: Wilson, Luckie, .'Dykes, ..'Pollock, and George. ■- ■■-■■■ ; Someone" suggested ■ that. Mr. -' Wilson should be appointed convener. Councillor J. E. Fitzgerald objected to Wasting the time of the meeting with such an unnecessary motion. They were indebted to Mr. Wilson for putting forward the idea, and the council were going to assist the movement, but. the Mayor or the secretary could surely call the meetings.- , - . Eventually the name of the Mayor, was added to the Preparations Committee,.-in order that he might call the meetings.'; ■- Mr. J. M'Bcan was appointed secretary pro tern. A member of tho Arts Club hoped that the organising committee would not be confined to sports .bodies. .It should include representatives of all .clubs willing. to help. ' ■«'' •••• t - '■■' Members of the;.Orohaus' Club, and the; Savage Club, who were present, expressed similar views. ' The Mayor agreed with this view, and explained, that this had all along been intended." He should not have taken a keen interest in the.matter unless .'on. the clear understanding -..that .it was. to bo a citizens' movement.